Menus

Reservations

Brunch is seated on a walk-in basis only. We do take reservations via Yelp Seat Me for dinner. You may also call us at 415-821-4608 to make a dinner reservation. We are a small restaurant and recommend reservations for parties of 6 or more (credit card required to hold the reservation). We set aside half of our seats daily for walk-ins.

About

First opening its doors in spring of 1994, Universal Cafe has survived the test of time and become a Mission District, San Francisco institution. Lead by executive chef Leslie Carr-Avalos, Universal showcases a menu firmly rooted in classic American cooking influenced by the eclectic bounty of Northern California.

With a rural New York Hudson Valley family history of organic gardening, Chef Leslie was raised to look forward to the seasonal harvests of organic fruits and vegetables. After college, Leslie made her way to California, working her way up in different restaurant kitchens to become the chef/owner of Universal Cafe.

With her roots in traditional farmhouse cooking, Leslie is still taken by combinations that are classic but now reinvented with a modern, clean, California twist. She changes her menu often and looks to each season’s changes – that which is new, local and fresh at the markets, as well as each season’s cheeses, meats & fish- for inspiration.

Sage Organic Catering

Chef Leslie also operates a full service catering company called Sage Organic Catering. We are passionate about our cooking! Let us help you take the guess work out of party planning.

Sign up for our Mailing List

Private Dining

This fee does not include beverages, beer, wine, tax, 20% gratuity, or additional menu items such as passed appetizers.

A buy out includes either a sit-down dinner or a stand up party, which is cocktail-style with passed appetizers and buffet. A sit-down dinner includes a choice of appetizers and buffet. A sit-down dinner includes a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert. We will work with you to tailor the menu to your needs.

We can accommodate up to 32 people for a sit-down dinner and a maximum of 70 people for a stand up cocktail party. If your sit-down dinner party is larger than 32 people, additional guests will be charged and extra fee per person (we can seat 8 extra people with the use of the counter).